Toy cannon.



J. WIKETTE.

TOY CANNON. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25.19M-

Patented M23 1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN cm. WASHINGTON, h. c.

onrrnp STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

JACOB WIKETTE, 0F s'r. LoUIs, MISSOURI.

TOY CANNON.

Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented May 23, 19 16.

Application filed June 25, 1915. Serial No.- 36,288.

barrel, together with means for latching the plungerin retracted or projectile expelling position.

The invention has for its objects to ,pro,

vide an inexpensive toy of this character which will simulatein appearance the modern type of ordnance having recoil cylinders at the sides of the barrel; one wherein the actuating springs are housed within'the cylinders and connected for imparting a maximum expelling force to the plunger; one in which the plunger may be readily retracted against the influence of the springs and automatically latched in retracted position; and one wherein thelatch keeper may be readily and positively actuated for releasing the plunger.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify the construction of toys of this type by providing one in which the parts may be readily and inexpensively produced and assembled, and one having a simplified form of latching means which will, however, automatically and effectually latch the plunger in its retracted position.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combin n f par lOrQ fu I ly her einafter described.

I :1, the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a toy cannon embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section taken on the line 22,

Fig. 1, parts being shown in plan; Fig. 3 is a rear detail elevation, partly in section; Fig; l is a detailtransverse section taken on the line 4 -45, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5-5, Fig. '1; and, Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the latch keeper.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the carriage, which is mounted on an axle 1 equipped with wheels 2, comprises side members or'arms 3, and a trail l, these parts, with the exception of the axle,-being suitably formed from sheet metal.

Sustained on the carriage is a barrel 5 having side cylinders 6 disposed respectively at opposite sides, and to extend longitudinally of the barrel throughout a suitable portion of its length, these cylinders, which represent the recoil cylinders of the modern type of ordnance, being closed at their ends, wh le formed in the adjacent walls of the cyllnders and barrel .are longitudinal slots 7. The barrel, which, together with the cylinders, is composed of metal tubing, has

its rear or breech end closed by means of a cap 8, while extending transversely through the cylinders, adjacent their forward; ends, are pins 9..

Housed respectively in the cylinders 6 are a pair of'coiledtension springs 10, engaged, at their forward ends, withthe pins 9, and, at their rear ends, with portions or arms 11 formed on a plunger 12 movably mounted in the barrel 5 and arranged to play in the slots 7 there beingconnected with the plunger, whichcarries a latch piece13, a retractmg member 14, preferably composed of a length of wire bent into substantially elongated ,U-shape, and having itsside portion or arms, whlch play through perforations in the cap 8, attached, at their forward ends, tothe plunger, and with its rearv looped portion projecting beyond the rear end of the barrel to present a finger piece or 1 v I The latch piece 13, which is preferably struck from the material of the plunger 12, is adapted, when theplunger is moved to retractedv position, to engage a keeper16 rotatably mounted upon one face of the breechcap 8, and equipped with a pair of spaced forwardly projecting engaging portions 17 having undercut notches 18 and oppositely inclined cam faces 19 adaptedto be acted upon by the part 13 for rotating the keeper to permit the part 13 to pass between the members 17 and seat withinthe notches 18. Fixed upon the rear end of the keeper pintle 2'0 is a finger pieceor arm 21 projecting loosely through a U-shaped guide I serving to maintainthe keeper normally 1n engaging position.

Attached to the trail 4 at a point adjacent the rear end of the cannon, is a bracket 24, through which is threaded the lower end of a screw rotatably mountedin abracket arm 26 attached to one of the carriage memwhich is provided, at its upper end, with a knurled head 27, a spring 28 having bearing,

at its ends respectively, against the bracket arms 24 and 26.

Inpractice, supposing the parts to be in the position as illustrated in. Fig. 2, the loop 15 maybe engaged by the finger ofthe operator for actuating the member. ltto andf further, that, through'the provision of retract the plunger 12 against, the' action of springs 10, which will, of course,.'as the plunger. moves rearward to retracted position, be 'BXPtLIldGd or t'ensioned. As the plunger: nears theJlimit of its rearward movement, the latch piece 13 comes into 0011- tactwith the oppositely beveled faces of the keeper portions 17 and acts upon these cam faces to automatically rotate the keeper against the action ofspring 23 sufiiciently to permit thelpart 13 to pass between the keeper arms 17 to a position' opposite the undercut notches 18, whereupon the spring 23 will throw the keeper to engaging position with the part 13: seated in said notches. A marble or'othersuitable projectile is then placed inthe barrel, and by a proper manipulation of the finger piece 21, which simulates the breech lever of a real cannon, the keeper is thrown to position for releasing the latch piece 13 to permit the springs 10 to actuate the plunger for forcibly ex-q pelling theprojectile, as will be readily understood; It is to be particularly noted that, by the provision of the cylinders 6, the appearanoe ofthe'tOy is made to'more nearly simulate that of an actual modern cannon,

these cylinders, the device may be readily equipped with a pair ofsprings, lending a greater expelling force to the plunger, and

further, that the springs can thus be so arrangedthat the force which they exert upon 1 the plim'ger may beproperly equalized to insure asmooth even movement of the plunger under the action of thesprings. It is also to be noted that the mouth of thecan non may, by proper manipulation of the screw 25, be readily elevated or depressed at will, to I vary the range of the projectile.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the detailsof construction without departing from: the spirit of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that this i inventionis not to be limited to the specific construction shown and described. 1

I Having thus described the invention, what isclaimedis:

l. toy cannon compr sing. a carriage, a barrel mounted on sa d'carrlage and having simulating the recoil cylinder of a modern field piece, a plunger movably mounted in the barrel, and means housed in the cylinder bers 3, there being mounted on said screw,

for actuating said plunger to expel a proj ectile from the barrel.

2. A toy cannon comprising a carriage, a barrel mounted on said carriage and having side cylinders outside of the barrel and simulating the recoil cylinders of amodern field piece, a plunger movably mounted in the barrel, and means housed in the cylin-' ders for actuating said plunger to expel aprojectile from the barrel. 1

3. A toy cannon comprising a carriage, a barrel mounted on said carriage and having side cylinders outside of the barrel and simulating the recoil cylinders of a modern field piece, a plunger movably mounted in the barrel, means housed in the cylinders for actuating said plunger to expel a rojectile from the barrel, and means inc uding a breech lever for latching the plunger in pro- .jectile expelling position.

4. A toy cannoncomprising a barrel, a plunger movably mounted therein, means adapted to actuate the plunger for ex elling aprojectile from the barrel,-and means for releasably latching the plunger in projectile expelling position, said means consisting of a rotatable keeper having oppositely cammed adapted to actuate the plunger for expelling a projectile, a keeper ro-tatably mounted at the r rear end of said barrel and having oppositely cammedengaging portions, apart on the plunger adapted to act on said cammed portions for throwing them automatically into engagement with said part, a spring for maintaining the keeper normally in engaging position, and a finger piece for moving the keeper against the action of said spring.

6. A toy cannon comprising a barrel, :1 plunger movably mounted therein and having a latch part, means adapted to actuate the plunger for expelling a projectile, a keeper movably mounted on the barrel. and having oppositely cammed engaging portions disposed to be acted upon by said latch part for throwing said portions automatically into engagement therewith, a spring arran ed for maintainin the kee er in en-- gaging position, and means for moving the keeper agalnst theaction of said spring.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature I this 7th day of June, 1915.

JACOB WIKETTE.

Copies of this patent may. be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenta Washington, D. G. 

